Palms of Rejoicing
March 28, 2023
Anticipating Palm Sunday
“ … Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” – John 12:13
It was not the first time that the children of Israel had employed palms in their worship of God. During the Feast of Tabernacles, the palm was to be one of other implements for rejoicing and celebrating the goodness of God.
One day, the King came to Jerusalem to prepare for his crowning with a crown of thorns. One sort of tree would welcome him. Another would suspend him between earth and Heaven and time and eternity as the sacrifice for our sins.
But as He entered the city, the people welcomed Him as a hero and so He was and is.
Before the week could end, he would die.
After the Sabbath, he would rise again.
And then, ascended into Heaven, His people would remember the Sunday of Palms throughout the generations and even till today. We remember why he so resolutely set his face toward Jerusalem and what he would face there. We remember that he knew far more about His fate than the masses, yet he entered without hesitation or reservation.
We see palms again in the scriptures as history begins the process of coming to fruition. It is in Heaven that the palms are waved in rejoicing and praise. This time, no crucifixion or contradiction of sinners awaits Him. This time, he is the genuine object of the praise of those who understand fully who he is and why he came.
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”- Revelation 7:9